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April 26, 2012 - My USDA: A Progress Report for Employees on USDA's Cultural Transformation, April 2012

April 10, 2012 - Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announces BioPreferred Final Rule

March 27, 2012 - My USDA: A Progress Report for Employees on USDA's Cultural Transformation, March 2012

March 8, 2012 - Women’s Education and Women’s Empowerment: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) celebrated National Women’s History Month on March 8, 2012. The theme this year was “Women’s Education and Women’s Empowerment". USDA General Counsel, Ramona Romero who is the first Hispanic woman, General Counsel at USDA and who is of Dominican Republic descent spoke at the event. The Keynote Speaker, Daphne Reid, conveyed in her speech how women have the ability to empower themselves through education and used her own life story as an example. USDA Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack delivered a message to employees and the public about how there were women in his life that were unsung heroes. These unsung heroes encouraged him to strive for excellence in education and taught him the importance of families and communities. Secretary Vilsack reminded all of us that we should stop and remember the women in our lives who were our unsung heroes.

February 21, 2012 - Promoting A Bioeconomy: President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum today directing the Federal Government to take decisive steps to dramatically increase the purchase of biobased products over the next two years, which will create jobs and drive innovation where biobased products are grown and manufactured. The Memorandum will also result in a 50 percent increase in the number of new products that are designated as biobased. Biobased products include items like paints, soaps and detergents and are developed from farm grown plants, rather than chemicals or petroleum bases. The biobased products sector marries the two most important economic engines for rural America: agriculture and manufacturing.

February 16, 2012 - Black History Month Observance: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Black History Month Observance this year celebrated “Black Women in American History and Culture”. The Keynote Speaker was Mr. Tim Reid, a Hollywood fixture for more than 30 years and whose work reaches across cultures and generations. USDA Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack spoke of Black Women in American History and Culture and how we at USDA have Culturally Transformed. As employees we are not only committed to serve the American public, but are committed to serve our USDA employees. Pearlie S. Reed, Assistant Secretary for Administration, USDA was presented the African American Leadership Award for being the highest ranked African American in USDA and for his more than 30 years of his service.

January 12, 2012 - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) National Service Day (NSD) Observance: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) presented the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.(MLK) National Service Day (NSD) Observance held on Thursday, January 12, 2012. USDA Keynote Speaker was Dr. William R. Harvey, President of Hampton University. Twelve USDA employees and employee groups were presented MLK Drum Major for Service Award for their outstanding commitment to community service. These awards were presented by Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack and Pearlie S. Reed, Assistant Secretary for Administration. The call to service was taken up by hundreds of USDA employees including Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary, Pearlie S. Reed, Assistant Secretary for Administration Dr. Alma C. Hobbs, Associate Assistant Secretary for Administration, William P. Milton Jr., Chief Human Capital Officer, and Monshi Ramdass, Director of Diversity& Recruitment.

 

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